Reconciliation

Reconciliation is difficult to practice in a self-absorbed, self-consumed and self-important culture. It is counter-cultural. It means I don’t get to hold on to my anger, or the desire to punish someone for being wronged/hurt. It can also mean that despite my actions I don’t get what I deserve.

It’s difficult to practice because it requires humility, unconditional love, and mercy. When we have been wronged, hurt, betrayed, wounded, or, disappointed it is the last thing on our mind. Heck, when people disagree with us, or hold a minority view with which we disagree, we are often ready to dismiss them simply because they hold a different view. Forget trying to even understand, or reconcile our differences.

At the heart of reconciliation is the idea of restoration. Restoring those who have been the source of pain is not very popular in a society that’s always looking out for #1. We restore, or “make things right”. Whether we are seeking reconciliation, or being asked to reconcile with someone the response isn’t optional for Christ-followers. We are the beneficiaries of heaven’s reconciliatory work through Christ:

10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Rom. 5:10)

20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, (Col. 1:20-21)

When we said, “Yes!” to Jesus we acknowledged His reconciling work between God and us, and we accepted the call to go and do likewise. We who are “in Christ” have no excuse from the personal responsibility to be reconciler’s in the world:

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:18ff)

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

Reconciliation seems to come hardest within marriages, family, work and friends. Maybe it’s because those are among our most intimate relationships and we know so much about each other. However, if you stop and think about it that’s exactly where reconciliation ought to begin. The practice of unconditional love and forgiveness should be present within marriage and family following the pattern of Christ’s reconciling work with the church (Eph. 5) and thereby becoming the foundational model for the rest of our relationships.

Next to Holy Week, Christmas should press all of us who call Christ, "Lord," into loving others unconditionally simply and only because that's what God has done for us through Christ. And to think it all began with the birth of a baby in a borrowed feeding trough. Now that’s preposterous! And so is reconciliation in a 21^st century world. Imagine what our world and relationships would look like if we really practiced the reconciliation we so desperately need and desire from God in Christ with others? It would be a game-changer! Thanks be to God for His gift of reconciliation through the babe of Bethlehem. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!